Rafael Nadal announced on May 18 that he would not be competing in the French Open due to the hip injury he sustained during the Australian Open in January. He made the announcement during a press conference at Manacor, in Spain.
"Roland Garros became impossible. I will not be there after many years, with everything that (tournament) means to me. It's not a decision I'm taking, it's a decision my body is taking," said the 36-year-old Spanish player.
The 14-time Roland Garros champion said that 2024 might be his final year of his professional tennis career.
"I'll look to be 100% ready for next year, which I believe will be the last year of my professional career," Nadal told reporters.
"I can't say this 100 percent because you never know what's going to happen," he said.
"The injury I suffered in Australia has not healed as we hoped," he also said.
"You can´t keep demanding more and more from your body, because there comes a moment when your body raises a white flag," said Nadal, also saying, "Even though your head wants to keep going, your body says this is as far it goes."
Nadal announced that he will be taking a few months off, added that he does not want to set a specific time for his comeback but anticipates it would take some time.
"I'll not establish a date for my return. I'll see how my body responds and take it from there ... if I can come back until the end of the year for the Davis Cup."
However, he added that he realises he can't keep trying to force his body back into match condition right now. He stated he is not convinced that taking more time off now will give him a meaningful chance to come back next season in competitive form.
"If I keep playing at this moment, I don't think I can be there next year... to be able to play the tournaments that I want to say goodbye to those who have supported me.
"The evolution of the injury I sustained in Australia has not gone as I would have liked. I have lost goals along the way, and Roland Garros becomes impossible.
"At this moment, I won't be able to be at Roland Garros. With what that tournament is for me, you can imagine how difficult it is."
Since his debut at Roland Garros in 2005, Nadal has participated every year, has made 18 appearances. Nadal won the first of his men's record 22 major titles in Paris as a teen in 2005.
The French Open clay-court Grand Slam tournament begins on May 28.
The former world number one hasn't competed since suffering a hip injury in a shocking second-round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January. It was expected that he would require up to two months to recover completely. He had originally planned to make a comeback at Monte Carlo Masters, in March, but he was unable to compete there and subsequently withdrew from all other tournaments.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
